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C. H. HALL.

Improvement in Steam Vacuum-Pumps.

N0. 131,532. Patented Sep.24, 1872.

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Unirse STATES @arrivai @serein CHARLES H. HALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM VACUUM-PUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,532, dated September 24, 1872.

CASE R.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HALL, of New York city, in the State of New York, have f invented a certain Improvement in Steam Pumping Apparatus, of -which the following is a specification:

The invention relates to that class of pumping apparatus in which the steam is admitted into the same chamber or chambers with the water, and presses upon the surface thereof. The working parts are small relatively to the capacity for pumping, and the apparatus constitutes an efficient pumping means, operating rapidly and reliably. I employ strong chambers provided with valves for admitting water and holding it against its return, and also with valves for allowing it to be expelled through another pipe to be conducted to an elevated reservoir, or to such other point as may be desired, and the operations of being filled with water and being discharged succeed each other by reason of a change of position of the steam valve or valves, governing the admission of steam from a boiler or steam generator, which maybe situated at a distance. There are two equal chambers in each set of the apparatus, the two lling and emptying alternately. The chamber which is filling with water should complete itsiilling before its mate is emptied, and the change of the steam-valves is effected automatically on the completion of the emptying ofthe discharging-chamber.

The following is a full and exact description of what I consider the best means of carrying into effect one form ofthe invention. The accompanyin g drawing forms a part of this specication.

Figures I and 2 represent this form, in which the change of condition in thevalves is induced by the expansion of mercury or other suitable fluid, surrounded by a space into which cold water and-steam are admitted alternately, according as the water-level rises and sinks in the connected chamber. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in' section 5 and Fig. 2 is a plan vlew.

The steam-valves e1 e are fixed on a stem, c, which extends out through a stuffing-box at each end of the valve-chest, and is connected to a lever. The lever F1 is mounted at one end, and the lever F2 at the other. The apparatus being the same at each end, a description of one alone will suffice. The piston G1 plays vertically in a cylinder, H1, with a quantity of confined air or other suitable duid susceptible of expansion from heat conlined below it, and with a chamber or jacket extending around it, as represented. If the duid under the piston G1 be mercury, the piece G1 need 4not iit tightly, but may be simply a mass of iron floating on the denser iluid. In either case the piece G1, which I will call a piston, is connected, by the rod g, to au intermediate lever, I1, turning on a fixed center, i', and acting on the lever F1, as represented. The short arm of the lever I1 acts on the curved surface on the lever F1; but the curvature is not struck on the axis of the lever I1 as a center. The arrangement causes the lever F1 to move a little as the lever I1 is moved. The pipes m a1 communicate with the jacket around the cylinder H1, the pipe m connecting the bottom of the jacket with the extreme base of the chamber A1, and the pipe a1 connecting the top of the jacket with a higher point in the chamber A1. The steam-valve c1 is open, and the steam thereby admitted into the chamber A1 drives out the water, while the chamber A2 becomes promptly filled. The water is expelled in the chamber A1 un til the water-level therein sinks below the connection with the pipe u1, immediately on which the steam rising through the pipe n1 into the jacket surrounding the cylinder H1 expels the water therefrom, allowing it to descend by gravity through the pipe m into the chamber A1 to be driven out. The elevation at which the pipe a1 isconnected to the chamber A1 is such that before the last of the water is expelled from the chamber A1 the steam has taken possession of the j acket around the cylinder H1, and* has raised the temperaZ ture of the expansible iiuid therein, and thereby raised the piston G1. This movement, by the action of the lever I1 upon the lever F1, pulls the rod c to the left, thereby promptly closing the steam-valve c1 and opening the steam-valve c2. The effect on the chambers A1 A2 due to this change of condition is as heretofore explained. 'lhe water commences to be expelled from the chamber A2, and the condensation of the steam in the chamber A1 rapidly createsa vacuum, which draws water from the pipe O past the valve o to fill the chamber A1. The only peculiarity worthy of remark is the effect on the piston G1 and the iiuid under it. So soon as the cold water has risen above the connection of the pipe nl it.

condenses the steam in the jacket and its connections, and the cold water flows upward through both the pipes m and al, and promptly fills the jacket, thereby commencing to cool the fluid, and rapidly induce a sinking of the piston G1. The operations are timed so that the piston G2sinks to its original position before the water is all expelled from the chamber A2, so that when the piston G2 rises by the admission of steam through the pipe n2 to the jacket surrounding the cylinder H2, the piston Gl is in Yits-lowest position, and the lever I1 is turned so as to offer no obstruction to the movement of the rod e and its connections to the right. This latter movement closes the steam-valve e2 and opens the steam-valve el, which brings in uncoated vessels of metal; but I propose, in ordinary practice, to coat the interior of each chamber with japan varnish, or with red lead and oil, or with a solution of rubber or the like, to serve as a durable non-conductor of heat. I can make the chambers and the several connections of lead, to pump acids, or of glass or other material for any special uses requiring such.

What I claim as my invention is as follows: In combination with the chambers A1 A2, suitable water induction and eduotion means, and

provisions for receiving steam intermittently 

